On This Day in History — August 4

Highlights of August 4

• 2020 — A large explosion of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon killed 218 people and caused US$15 billion in damage. Read more
• 2014 — Julieka Ivanna Dhu, an Aboriginal Australian woman, died in police custody after her deteriorating condition was mocked and ignored. Read more
• 2007 — An airport police officer discovered a suitcase containing approximately US$800,000 as it passed through security at Jorge Newbery Airfield in Buenos Aires, sparking an international scandal involving Venezuela and Argentina. Read more
• 2006 — Sri Lankan civil war: Seventeen employees of the French nongovernmental organization ACF International were massacred in Mutur. Read more
• 1997 — French supercentenarian Jeanne Calment died at the age of 122 years, 164 days, with the longest confirmed human lifespan in history. Read more
• 1995 — Yugoslav Wars: The Croatian Army initiated Operation Storm, the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence and the largest European land battle since the Second World War. Read more
• 1991 — An explosion on the Greek cruise ship MTS Oceanos (pictured) ruptured its hull, causing it to sink off the east coast of South Africa, with all 571 people on board rescued. Read more
• 1983 — Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo, the president of Upper Volta, was ousted in a coup d'état led by Thomas Sankara. Read more
• 1964 — Vietnam War: The National Security Agency falsely claimed that a U.S. Navy destroyer (pictured) was attacked a second time by North Vietnamese vessels in the Gulf of Tonkin, leading Congress to authorize the use of military force. Read more
• 1953 — Alfred C. Glassell Jr. caught a black marlin weighing 1,560 lb (710 kg) (pictured) off the coast of Peru, setting the record for the largest bony fish caught by hand. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: Adhering to the terms of the Treaty of London, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany in response to the latter's invasion of Belgium. Read more
• 1892 — Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother were found murdered in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts; Borden was later tried and acquitted for the murders. Read more
• 1862 — In Brooklyn, a mob composed largely of Irish Americans attacked a group of African Americans in a riot. Read more
• 1830 — American surveyor James Thompson produced the first plat of Chicago for the Illinois and Michigan Canal Commissioners. Read more
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: Commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Army of Italy decisively defeated Austrian forces led by Peter Vitus von Quosdanovich at the Battle of Lonato. Read more
• 1783 — Mount Asama (pictured) in Japan began a climactic eruption, which exacerbated the Great Tenmei famine and led to thousands of deaths. Read more
• 1704 — War of the Spanish Succession: A combined Anglo-Dutch fleet under the command of George Rooke and allied with Archduke Charles captured Gibraltar from Spain. Read more
• 1356 — Hundred Years' War: A large-scale mounted raid by Anglo-Gascon forces began under the command of Edward the Black Prince. Read more
• 1265 — Second Barons' War: Royal troops led by Prince Edward defeated baronial forces under Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham in Worcestershire, England. Read more

Events

• 2020 — Beirut Port explosion: At least 220 people are killed and over 5,000 are wounded when 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate explodes in Beirut, Lebanon. Read more
• 2019 — Nine people are killed and 26 injured in a shooting in Dayton, Ohio. This comes only 13 hours after another mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, where 23 people were killed. Read more
• 2018 — Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) expel the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from the Iraq–Syria border, concluding the second phase of the Deir ez-Zor campaign. Read more
• 2018 — Crisis in Venezuela: Seven people are injured when two drones detonate explosives on Avenida Bolívar, Caracas while president Nicolás Maduro is giving a speech to the Venezuelan National Guard. Read more
• 2007 — NASA's Phoenix Mars lander is launched. Read more
• 2006 — A massacre is carried out by Sri Lankan government forces, killing 17 employees of the French INGO Action Against Hunger (known internationally as Action Contre la Faim, or ACF). Read more
• 1995 — Operation Storm, the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence begins. Read more
• 1987 — The Federal Communications Commission rescinds the Fairness Doctrine which had required radio and television stations to give equal time to opposing views. Read more
• 1984 — The Republic of Upper Volta changes its name to Burkina Faso. Read more
• 1984 — The Ariane 3 rocket is launched for the first time, carrying the Eutelsat I F-2 and Télécom 1A satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Read more
• 1983 — Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo, president of the military government of Upper Volta, is ousted from power in a coup d'état led by Captain Thomas Sankara. Read more
• 1977 — U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs legislation creating the United States Department of Energy. Read more
• 1975 — The Japanese Red Army takes more than 50 hostages at the AIA Building housing several embassies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The hostages include the U.S. consul and the Swedish Chargé d'affaires. The gunmen win the release of five imprisoned comrades and fly with them to Libya. Read more
• 1974 — A bomb explodes in the Italicus Express train at San Benedetto Val di Sambro, Italy, killing 12 people and wounding 22. Read more
• 1972 — Ugandan President Idi Amin announces that Uganda is no longer responsible for the care of British subjects of Asian origin, beginning the expulsions of Ugandan Asians. Read more
• 1969 — Vietnam War: At the apartment of French intermediary Jean Sainteny in Paris, American representative Henry Kissinger and North Vietnamese representative Xuân Thuỷ begin secret peace negotiations. The negotiations will eventually fail. Read more
• 1965 — The Constitution of the Cook Islands comes into force, giving the Cook Islands self-governing status within New Zealand. Read more
• 1964 — Civil rights movement: Civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney are found dead in Mississippi after disappearing on June 21. Read more
• 1964 — Second Gulf of Tonkin Incident: U.S. destroyers USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy mistakenly report coming under attack in the Gulf of Tonkin. Read more
• 1947 — The Supreme Court of Japan is established. Read more
• 1946 — An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 hits northern Dominican Republic. One hundred are killed and 20,000 are left homeless. Read more
• 1944 — The Holocaust: A tip from a Dutch informer leads the Gestapo to a sealed-off area in an Amsterdam warehouse, where they find and arrest Jewish diarist Anne Frank, her family, and four others. Read more
• 1944 — Under the state of emergency law, the Finnish Parliament elects Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim as the President of Finland to replace the resigned Risto Ryti. Read more
• 1936 — Prime Minister of Greece Ioannis Metaxas suspends parliament and the Constitution and establishes the 4th of August Regime. Read more
• 1924 — Diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Soviet Union are established. Read more
• 1922 — Enver Pasha dies in a skirmish between the Bolshevik Red Army and Basmachi troops, to whom he had defected earlier. Read more
• 1921 — Bolshevik–Makhnovist conflict: Mikhail Frunze declares victory over the Makhnovshchina. Read more
• 1915 — World War I: The German 12th Army occupies Warsaw during the Gorlice–Tarnów Offensive and the Great Retreat of 1915. Read more
• 1914 — World War I: In response to the German invasion of Belgium, Belgium and the British Empire declare war on Germany. The United States declares its neutrality. Read more
• 1892 — The father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden are found murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. She will be tried and acquitted for the crimes a year later. Read more
• 1889 — The Great Fire of Spokane, Washington destroys some 32 blocks of the city, prompting a mass rebuilding project. Read more
• 1887 — Granny, a sea anemone, died in Edinburgh after nearly 60 years in captivity. Her death was reported in The Scotsman and The New York Times. Read more
• 1873 — American Indian Wars: While protecting a railroad survey party in Montana, the United States 7th Cavalry, under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer clashes for the first time with the Cheyenne and Lakota people near the Tongue River; only one man on each side is killed. Read more
• 1863 — Matica slovenská, Slovakia's public-law cultural and scientific institution focusing on topics around the Slovak nation, is established in Martin. Read more
• 1854 — The Hinomaru is established as the official flag to be flown from Japanese ships. Read more
• 1821 — The Saturday Evening Post is published for the first time as a weekly newspaper. Read more
• 1814 — War of 1812: The ultimately unsuccessful Siege of Fort Erie begins as British forces attempt to recapture the fort and drive American forces out of Canada. Read more
• 1796 — French Revolutionary Wars: Napoleon leads the French Army of Italy to victory in the Battle of Lonato. Read more
• 1791 — The Treaty of Sistova is signed, ending the Ottoman–Habsburg wars. Read more
• 1790 — A newly passed tariff act creates the Revenue Cutter Service (the forerunner of the United States Coast Guard). Read more
• 1789 — France: abolition of feudalism by the National Constituent Assembly. Read more
• 1783 — Mount Asama erupts in Japan, killing about 1,400 people (Tenmei eruption). The eruption causes a famine, which results in an additional 20,000 deaths. Read more
• 1781 — Fourth Anglo-Dutch War, a fleet of six East India Company ships sets sail from Fort Marlborough to raid the Dutch VOC factories on the West coast of Sumatra including the major port of Padang. Read more
• 1704 — War of the Spanish Succession: Gibraltar is captured by an English and Dutch fleet, commanded by Admiral Sir George Rooke and allied with Archduke Charles. Read more
• 1701 — Great Peace of Montreal between New France and First Nations is signed. Read more
• 1693 — Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon's invention of champagne; it is not clear whether he actually invented champagne, however he has been credited as an innovator who developed the techniques used to perfect sparkling wine. Read more
• 1578 — Battle of Al Kasr al Kebir: The Moroccans defeat the Portuguese but both the Moroccan king Abd al-Malik and the Portuguese king Sebastian die. Ahmad al-Mansur follows Abd al-Malik as sultan of Morocco while the death of Sebastian leads to a succession crisis in Portugal. Read more
• 1327 — First War of Scottish Independence: James Douglas leads a raid into Weardale and almost kills Edward III of England. Read more
• 1320 — The so-called Black Parliament at Scone tries William II de Soules and other nobles who had plotted against Robert I of Scotland and intended to place William on the Scottish throne. Read more
• 1265 — Second Barons' War: Battle of Evesham: The army of Prince Edward (the future king Edward I of England) defeats the forces of rebellious barons led by Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, killing de Montfort and many of his allies. Read more
• 598 — Goguryeo-Sui War: In response to a Goguryeo (Korean) incursion into Liaoxi, Emperor Wéndi of Sui orders his youngest son, Yang Liang (assisted by the co-prime minister Gao Jiong), to conquer Goguryeo during the Manchurian rainy season, with a Chinese army and navy. Read more
• 70 BC — The trial against Gaius Verres for corruption is opened, with Marcus Tullius Cicero as prosecutor and renowned orator Quintus Hortensius as defending lawyer. Read more

Born on August 4

• 1998 — Lil Skies, American rapper Read more
• 1995 — Bruna Marquezine, Brazilian actress Read more
• 1994 — Bobby Shmurda, American rapper Read more
• 1992 — Daniele Garozzo, Italian fencer Read more
• 1992 — Domingo Germán, Dominican baseball player Read more
• 1992 — Cole Sprouse, American actor Read more
• 1992 — Dylan Sprouse, American actor Read more
• 1989 — Jessica Mauboy, Australian singer-songwriter and actress Read more
• 1989 — Wang Hao, Chinese chess grandmaster Read more
• 1988 — Kelley O'Hara, American soccer player Read more
• 1987 — Marreese Speights American basketball player Read more
• 1986 — Nick Augusto, American drummer Read more
• 1986 — Leon Camier, English motorcycle racer Read more
• 1986 — Cicinho, Brazilian footballer Read more
• 1986 — Iosia Soliola, New Zealand-Samoan rugby league player Read more
• 1986 — David Williams, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1985 — Crystal Bowersox, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Read more
• 1985 — Robbie Findley, American soccer player Read more
• 1985 — Mark Milligan, Australian footballer Read more
• 1985 — Ha Seung-jin, South Korean basketball player Read more
• 1985 — Antonio Valencia, Ecuadorean footballer Read more
• 1984 — Terry Campese, Australian rugby league player Read more
• 1984 — Mardy Collins, American basketball player Read more
• 1983 — Greta Gerwig, American actress, producer, and screenwriter Read more
• 1981 — Marques Houston, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor Read more
• 1981 — Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, American member of British royal family, media personality and actress Read more
• 1980 — Richard Dawson, English cricketer and coach Read more
• 1979 — Robin Peterson, South African cricketer Read more
• 1978 — Jeremy Adduono, Canadian ice hockey player and coach Read more
• 1978 — Luke Allen, American baseball player (died 2022) Read more
• 1978 — Kurt Busch, American race car driver Read more
• 1978 — Agnė Eggerth, Lithuanian sprinter Read more
• 1978 — Ricardo Serrano, Spanish cyclist Read more
• 1978 — Per-Åge Skrøder, Norwegian ice hockey player Read more
• 1978 — Satoshi Hino, Japanese voice actor Read more
• 1977 — Frankie Kazarian, American wrestler Read more
• 1977 — Luís Boa Morte, Portuguese footballer and manager Read more
• 1976 — Paul Goldstein, American tennis player Read more
• 1976 — Andrew McLeod, Australian footballer Read more
• 1976 — Trevor Woodman, English rugby player and coach Read more

Died on August 4

• 2024 — Charles Cyphers, American actor (born 1939) Read more
• 2024 — Tsung-Dao Lee, Chinese-American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1926) Read more
• 2024 — Duane Thomas, American football player (born 1947) Read more
• 2023 — Dalia Fadila, Israeli educator (born 1971/1972) Read more
• 2019 — Nuon Chea, Cambodian politician and theorist for the Khmer Rouge (born 1926) Read more
• 2015 — Elsie Hillman, American philanthropist and politician (born 1925) Read more
• 2015 — Les Munro, New Zealand soldier and pilot (born 1919) Read more
• 2015 — John Rudometkin, American basketball player (born 1940) Read more
• 2015 — Billy Sherrill, American songwriter and producer (born 1936) Read more
• 2014 — James Brady, American activist and politician, 15th White House Press Secretary (born 1940) Read more
• 2014 — Chester Crandell, American lawyer and politician (born 1946) Read more
• 2014 — Jake Hooker, Israeli-American guitarist and songwriter (born 1953) Read more
• 2013 — Keith H. Basso, American anthropologist and academic (born 1940) Read more
• 2013 — Art Donovan, American football player and radio host (born 1925) Read more
• 2013 — Olavi J. Mattila, Finnish engineer and politician, Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1918) Read more
• 2013 — Renato Ruggiero, Italian lawyer and politician, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs (born 1930) Read more
• 2013 — Tony Snell, English lieutenant and pilot (born 1922) Read more
• 2013 — Sandy Woodward, English admiral (born 1932) Read more
• 2012 — Johnnie Bassett, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1935) Read more
• 2012 — Brian Crozier, Australian-English journalist and historian (born 1918) Read more
• 2012 — Bud Riley, American football player and coach (born 1925) Read more
• 2011 — Naoki Matsuda, Japanese footballer (born 1977) Read more
• 2009 — Blake Snyder, American screenwriter and producer (born 1957) Read more
• 2008 — Craig Jones, English motorcycle racer (born 1985) Read more
• 2007 — Lee Hazlewood, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1929) Read more
• 2007 — Raul Hilberg, Austrian-American political scientist and historian (born 1926) Read more
• 2005 — Anatoly Larkin, Russian-American physicist and theorist (born 1932) Read more
• 2005 — Iván Szabó, Hungarian economist and politician, Minister of Finance of Hungary (born 1934) Read more
• 2004 — Mary Sherman Morgan, American chemist and engineer (born 1921) Read more
• 2004 — Hossein Panahi (Persian: حسین پناهی), Iranian actor and poet (born 1956) Read more
• 2003 — Frederick Chapman Robbins, American pediatrician and virologist, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1916) Read more
• 1999 — Victor Mature, American actor (born 1913) Read more
• 1998 — Yury Artyukhin, Russian colonel, engineer, and astronaut (born 1930) Read more
• 1997 — Jeanne Calment, French super-centenarian; holds records for the world's substantiated longest-lived person (born 1875) Read more
• 1996 — Geoff Hamilton, English gardener, author, and television host (born 1936) Read more
• 1992 — Seichō Matsumoto, Japanese author (born 1909) Read more
• 1990 — Ettore Maserati, Italian engineer and businessman (born 1894) Read more
• 1985 — Don Whillans, English rock climber and mountaineer (born 1933) Read more
• 1982 — Bruce Goff, American architect, designed the Boston Avenue Methodist Church (born 1904) Read more
• 1981 — Melvyn Douglas, American actor (born 1901) Read more

Holidays & observances

Christian feast day: Aristarchus; Christian feast day: Blessed Cecilia Cesarini; Christian feast day: Euphronius; Christian feast day: Blessed Frédéric Janssoone; Christian feast day: John Vianney; Christian feast day: Molua (or Lua); Christian feast day: Raynerius of Split; Christian feast day: Sithney, patron saint of mad dogs; Christian feast day: August 4 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics); Coast Guard Day (United States); Constitution Day (Cook Islands); first Monday in August; Matica slovenská Day (Slovakia); Barack Obama Day in Illinois in the United States; 2020 Beirut explosion commemoration day in Lebanon

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